Nickel
NIK-l
Nickel (Ni) is a silvery-white metal that has the atomic number 28 in the periodic table. It is a Transition metal and located in Group 10 of the periodic table. It has the symbol Ni.
Nickel is found in the earth’s curst in small amounts usually in mineral rocks and larger nickel-iron meteorite debris. It is hypothesised that the core of the earth as well as containing Iron also has some components of Nickel from the earliest days of the big bang. Nickel was first isolated by Axel Fredrik Cronstedt who initially believed the metal to be Copper, instead he produced a white metal which he named after the German spirit Nickel. Nickel much like Iron and Cobalt is magnetic. Nickel has a wide range of uses. It’s main use is in the production of stainless steel due to its corrosion resistant properties. It is also widely used to make coins around the world. It is located in Group 10 and it has a melting point of 1455°c and a boiling point of 2730°c being a solid metal at room temperature.
FAQ's
Axel Cronstedt
1751
Uses
Used in electroplating and metal alloys because of its resistance to corrosion. Also in nickel-cadmium batteries; as a catalyst and for coins.
Sources
Chiefly found in pentlandite [(Ni,Fe)9S8] ore. The metal is produced by heating the ore in a blast furnace which replaces the sulfur with oxygen. The oxides are then treated with an acid that reacts with the iron not the nickel.
About the author
Nathan M
Nathan has a degree in BSc Biomedical Chemistry at Warwick University and a degree in PGCE Science at Wolverhampton University, UK. Nathan's subject matter ranges from general chemistry and organic chemistry. Nathan also created the curriculum on Breaking Atom in the course page.
Citation
Ni
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